"It seems the last lesson wasn't harsh enough. You didn't take my warning seriously, so I'll warn you again!"
With that, Old Mo raised his massive palm and unleashed a fierce beating on Xiao Potian.
*Slap, slap, slap!*
The crisp sound of slaps echoed through the night, accompanied by Xiao Potian's miserable cries.
In just a moment, his face, which hadn't even recovered from the previous swelling, became even more swollen.
Old Mo didn't go too hard—just gave Xiao Potian a thorough thrashing.
He'd recover in a few days.
But the double torment, both mental and physical, pushed Xiao Potian to his breaking point, and his cultivation unexpectedly broke through.
A protagonist is a protagonist, alright.
Getting beaten up and still breaking through in cultivation? Truly like a cow stepping on a live wire—badass with a spark!
If it were anyone else, they'd probably have lost all their spirit after such a beating.
After Old Mo left, Xiao Potian glared at his retreating figure, spitting out a mouthful of blood and growling, "Damn… damn Zhou Xian… Zhou Xianzong… I swear we're mortal enemies!"
…
Two days passed in a flash, and Xiao Potian's injuries were mostly healed.
His cultivation had also fully stabilized.
To be honest, he was secretly pretty pleased.
Though on the surface, he still looked furious, grinding his teeth.
On the other side…
"Well done, Old Mo."
Luo Le'er, enjoying a rare two days of peace, broke into a rare smile.
Hearing this, Old Mo scratched the back of his head, a bit embarrassed.
*Buzz, buzz!*
At that moment, Luo Le'er suddenly noticed her diary vibrating a few times.
She quickly pulled it out to see what Zhou Xianzong had written today.
The past two days had just been casual rants about trivial matters.
[If I remember correctly, right about now, Xiao Potian should be slaughtering his way through the Demonic Beast Forest, right?]
[And Xiao Potian's luck is pretty good this time. It seems he kills a fourth-level Pulse-Opening Realm giant python.]
[Not only does he get the extremely valuable python gall, but he also obtains the Blazing Fire Herb the python was guarding.]
[Tch, tch, that Blazing Fire Herb is a seventh-grade medicinal herb, just one step away from being a sixth-grade one.]
[After this battle, Xiao Potian finally starts to grow into his own.]
After reading the diary, Luo Le'er's mind raced with thoughts.
If Xiao Potian got the Blazing Fire Herb, his rise would likely become unstoppable.
By then, shaking him off would be much harder.
No way. I have to go to the Demonic Beast Forest.
I need to get the Blazing Fire Herb before Xiao Potian does.
With that in mind, Luo Le'er headed to the Demonic Beast Forest alone, not even bringing Old Mo.
On the other side…
"Host has successfully written in the diary. Obtained technique: Striking the Bull Across the Mountain, Charisma +3."
Hmm? Striking the Bull Across the Mountain?
Zhou Xianzong paused, thinking to himself that this technique was pretty useless to him.
After putting away the diary, he thought for a moment and decided to leave the Treasure Pavilion, intending to bid farewell to Mo Wu.
He'd been staying at the Treasure Pavilion for the past two days.
After all, for a long time to come, Mo Wu would be his "business partner."
But now, he needed to head to the Demonic Beast Forest to secretly help Xiao Potian.
The plot kept going off track, and Xiao Potian was only at the ninth level of the Body Forging Realm.
What if he couldn't beat the python and died?
If he died, Zhou Xianzong would have to start over, and he really didn't want to go through all that again.
"Your Highness, are you leaving?"
Before Zhou Xianzong could finish packing, Mo Wu, who had just read the diary, came to his room.
"I've been bored out of my mind these past two days, so I'm planning to take a trip to the Demonic Beast Forest," Zhou Xianzong said with a smile.
"Is that so? I happen to have some business there too. Your Highness, why don't we go together?" Mo Wu said with a charming smile.
In truth, she just wanted to tag along to watch the drama unfold.
Hearing this, Zhou Xianzong was momentarily stunned but didn't refuse, agreeing to her suggestion.
"Your Highness, wait a moment. I'll call some experts from the Treasure Pavilion to join us and protect you."
As she spoke, Mo Wu turned to leave.
"Sister Mo, no need. Just the two of us is fine. We don't need a crowd," Zhou Xianzong quickly stopped her.
If a bunch of people followed them, tailing him around, how was he supposed to secretly help Xiao Potian?
If someone saw him, he'd lose all face.
And worse, he wouldn't even have an explanation.
He couldn't exactly say he and Xiao Potian were fellow disciples, could he?
Anyone with half a brain could tell he and Xiao Potian were sworn enemies.
"Then we'll do as Your Highness wishes," Mo Wu nodded.
With that, the two boarded a carriage and headed to the Demonic Beast Forest.
Since Zhou Xianzong had read the novel, he knew the exact location of the giant python described in it.
So his purpose on this trip was exceptionally clear.
As he approached the python's lair…
*Boom!*
Suddenly, a loud explosion rang out, and the intense force shook the ground.
Zhou Xianzong and Mo Wu simultaneously turned toward the source of the sound.
At the edge of their vision, they saw a man in his twenties leap into the air like a ferocious beast, smashing a fist directly onto a giant python's head.
The python roared in fury.
It struggled fiercely, but the man pinned it down and beat it relentlessly.
This scene made Zhou Xianzong's eyelids twitch.
Xiao Potian was really going all out, huh?
As expected of the protagonist, beating a python four minor realms above him.
This python was a Black-Scaled Diamond Python, known for its incredible defense.
Its body could withstand any blade or sword without a scratch.
Yet every punch Xiao Potian landed hit hard, cracking the python's bones.
"What's going on? I clearly remember Xiao Potian had a tough time killing the python, and he even needed help from the old man in the pendant. How is he just pummeling it now?" Zhou Xianzong muttered, puzzled.
Looking closer, he realized the python was already injured—its tail had been severed.
Holy crap!
So Xiao Potian had set an ambush beforehand?
No wonder the python couldn't fight back and was being dominated.
And… wasn't Xiao Potian only at the ninth level of the Body Forging Realm?
When did he break through to the Pulse-Opening Realm?!
But the breakthrough was a good thing—at least it ensured Xiao Potian's safety.
His life wasn't in danger.
Thinking this, Zhou Xianzong secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
He hadn't planned to intervene anyway.
"Your Highness, isn't that Xiao Potian? Why is he here?" Mo Wu said, feigning surprise.
"I'm not sure, but this kid's got bad luck getting targeted by that python," Zhou Xianzong chuckled.
Hearing this, Mo Wu muttered to herself, *You little punk, I see right through your act. You clearly came here to watch the show.*